Lawmakers asked yesterday the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to explain the reported downgrading of the country’s claim on Sabah in a bid to gain the support of Malaysia for the Philippines’ arbitration case against China over the disputed South China Sea before the United Nations, as they warned that it will be treason to drop the country’s solid legal claim over the island. Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodri- guez, who heads the 75-man Ad Hoc Committee on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, pressed Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to explain the reported note verbale handed by the DFA to the Malaysian embassy last week, indicating the country’s offer to downgrade its claim over the oil-rich island-state. Despite Malacañang’s denial, Rodriguez said he will file a resolution calling for an investigation into the “alarming” report disclosing the DFA’s gesture to inform the Malaysian government about its move to review Manila’s protest lodged before the United Nations protesting the joint submission by Malaysia and Vietnam to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) which effectively declared Sabah as a Malaysian territory.

Charissa, L., & Kaniling, G. (2015, March 31). Is PH dropping Sabah claim?: Lawmakers demand explanation, but Palace disputes report. Manila Bulletin, pp. 1, 6.